Man tried to abduct boy outside Brighton Park school, police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Police have issued a safety alert after a man tried to abduct a child outside his school in the Brighton Park neighborhood on Chicago's Southwest Side.

According to Chicago police, an unknown white male approached a boy and attempted to pull him away from the yard outside Nathan S. Davis Elementary School around 3 p.m. on November 16.

The child was able to escape and fled to his mother's vehicle nearby, police said.

Police said the suspect was last seen wearing a red jacket and blue jeans. No further description was provided.

The victim's 8-year-old classmate said his friend shared what happened.

"He tried to escape and he did but he also tried to kick him and he did. He was freed," said the classmate, who is being identified only as Josue.

Police say that's exactly what happened as the young victim left school to meet his mother. The lurking man, police say, grabbed the boy's arm, and tried to take him.

"We light right here so I don't know how nobody saw," said Veronica Lopez.

Children at the school are taking the incident as a lesson and exercising caution after a warning from teachers.

"Never to go somewhere by yourself without your parents seeing you," said Josue.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact Area Central detectives at 312-747-8380.